The authors have proposed and developed the buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) providing stable hysteretic behavior under high-strain conditions. In the past studies by cyclically static loading tests, the performance evaluation formula of the BRBs was proposed with the scope of practical application. However, the effects of the clearance between the steel core plate and the restraining member on the inelastic behavior of the BRBs have not been determined yet. In this paper, the effects of the clearance on the hysteretic behavior and compressive strength of the BRBs are examined by cyclically static loading tests. As a result, their effects are not significant to the compressive strength and the deformation amplitude of the buckling mode of the BRBs. Furthermore, the number of the buckling mode shape related the compressive strength is estimated.
